For six seasons (and two movies), Carrie Bradshaw was the woman we all wanted to be or be friends with. And with the help of Sarah Jessica Parker, the role is one that will forever be cherished by women who’ve looked to her to help navigate through love and life.

For the April issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, the actress and cover girl shared why so many of us cling to her character of the hit HBO series Sex and the City, saying:

“She was a really good friend. That’s why they can forgive those very apparent flaws and selfishnesses. She was a deeply devoted friend, and I think women really respond to that kind of connection. I think we all want it, we all work towards having it, and we’re not always the very best friends we can be… It’s kind of surprising to say, but in a way [Sex and the City] was a more innocent time. I think so much reality television – and the women that dominate culture today – are pretty unfriendly towards one another. They use language that’s really objectionable and cruel and not supportive. I like to remember that Carrie and the other woman in Sex and the City were really nice to each other.”

Another thing we all loved about Carrie was her shoe collection. The girl loved her Manolos, a similarity she and SJP share. Recently, she added the title of shoe designer to her portfolio after collaborating on a Nordstrom line with George Malkemus, the CEO of Manolo Blahnik himself:

Having played this character for so long who had such a love of shoes – and, you know, some might say a reckless desire to have them – I just thought, ‘This is what I’d really like to do now.’ I called him and said, ‘I have this crazy idea…’”

Because of course she has his phone number saved in her phone, and on speed dial we imagine. Despite her status as a style icon, she admitted to the mag that she never really wanted to be famous. Before becoming a Manhattanite and finding Hollywood stardom, Sarah had much more humbler beginnings. She grew up in Nelsonville, an Ohio mining town, with eight siblings and half siblings:

“My mother was chic but we were broke. Inside the house was chaos and madness… I appreciate everything. I think that there are probably a lot of people that don’t care as much, and it all still works for them. But I can’t have my name on something and not be totally involved. It can often make things really hard but that’s simply the way I have to be.”